The Astros cheated in 2017. And sure, that malfeasance surely contributed to the Yankees’ inability to win a championship that fall. But Justin Verlander was a far more significant reason why.
The Bombers were too cheap and too cute to trade for him. Better to count the luxury tax pennies and roll with Sonny Gray. The Astros thought otherwise and wrote the checks. Verlander went and beat them in Games 2 and 6 of the ALCS, allowing one run over 16 innings of work. And has continued to be a Yankees killer ever since, winning two World Series titles and two Cy Young Awards in Houston before setting up shop across down with the Mets.